Word writing machine producing closed-up printing in response to simultaneous actuation of keys



Dec. 28, 1

WORD WRITING MACHINE P W A AYRES ROOUCING CLOSED-UP PRINTING IN RESPONSETO SIMULTANEOUS ACTUA'IION OF KEYS Filed Nov. 13, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet lFlG.

IN V EN TOR.

WALDEMAR AAYRES.

Dec. 28, 1965 w. A. AYREs 3,225,883

WORD WRITING MACHINE PRODUCING CLOSED-UP PRINTING IN RESPONSE TOSIMULTANEOUS AGTUATION OF KEYS Filed Nov. 13, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 o 0e. o

N c* (D n Mfg .I u bk. u.

lg'ot l UI Lo 'foo m F s) O f; Z .-.l X m u:

Dec. 28, 1965 w. A. AYREs 3,225,883

WORD WRITING MACHINE PRODUCING CLOSED-UP PRINTING IN RESPONSE TOSIMULTANEOUS ACTUATION OF KEYS Filed Nov. 13, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 1NVENTOR WAL. DE MAR A` AYRES FIG. 5. BY

ATTORNEY 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR W. A. AYRES WORD WRITING MACHINEPRODUCING CLOSED-UP PRINTING IN RESPONSE TO SIMULTANEOUS ACTUATION OFKEYS Filed NOV. 13, 1962 Dec. 28, 1965 f l Ef... l

WALDEMAR A. AYRES.

W. A. AYR ES Dec. 28, 1965 WORD WRITING MACHINE PRODUCING CLOSED-UPPRINTING IN RESPONSE TO SIMULTANEOUS ACTUATION OF KEYS Filed NOV. 13,1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 m 0 w n m INVENTOR WALDEMAR A. AYRES.

Dec. 28, 1965 W A AYRES 3,225,883

woRD WRITING MACHINE PRODUGING CLOSED-UP PRINTING IN RESPONSE TosIMuLTANEoUs AcTUATIoN oF KEYS Filed NOV. 13, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 lWALDEMAR A. AYRES Dec. 28, 1965 w. A. AYRES 3,225,883

WORD WRITING MACHINE PRODUCING CLOSED-UP PRINTING IN RESPONSE TOSIMULTANEOUS ACTUATION OF KEYS Dec. 28, 1965 w. A. AYRES 3,225,883

WORD WRITING MACHINE PRODUCING' CLOSED-UP PRINTING IN RESPONSE TOSIMULTANEOUS ACTUATION OF KEYS Filed NOV. 13, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 IOIT AB. o2 KEY IosAIo-r ||4 los I I 20s 197- 207 los |04 20 l |05 2Io- 99BL H5 FIG. I4.

ELECTRO- MAGNETlo* cu T cH FIG. I5.

IN VEN TOR.

WALDEM AR A. AYRES.

Dec. 28, 1965 w. A. AYREs 3,225,883

WORD WRITING MACHINE PRODUCING CLOSED-UP PRINTING IN RESPONSE TOSIMULTANEOUS ACTUATION OF KEYS Filed Nov. 13, 1962 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 I'INVENTOR.

C WALDEMAR A. AYRES.

United States Patent O 3,225,883 WORD WRITING MACHINE PRODUCING CLOSED-UP PRINTING IN RESPONSE T SIMULTANEOUS ACTUATION 0F KEYS Waldemar A.Ayres, 401 Park Ave., Rutherford, NJ. Filed Nov. 13, 1962, Ser. No.237,144 17 Claims. (Cl. 197-11) This invention relates to improvementsin methods and apparatus for key operated word printing machines capableof producing printed records of spoken words at commercial dictationspeeds, with full normal spelling no shorthand code, no phonetics, noabbreviationsreadable by every normal literate person with no trainingin shorthandand with various forms of this invention adapted to andparticularly useful in the lields of stenography, or as high speedoffice transcription machines (where typewriters are usually used), newsprinters (as in brokerage oliices), teletype wire communications, radiocontrolled printers, and the recording of text material in code formcapable of controlling machine equipment, such as accounting machines,computers, transmitters, etc. This invention also relates toimprovements in methods and apparatus for making normally spelleddirectly readable records of spoken or written languages generally, butfor the purposes of illustration, their use in connection with theEnglish language will be discussed in detail, it being understoodhowever that this is not limiting, and that applications of theseprinciples to all appropriate languages are Within the scope of thisinvention also.

I have spent years studying the history, principles, and methods ofshorthand and the requirements of stenography, the transcription of textmaterial, bookkeeping and accounting work involving these same problems,and written communication involving key operated machines including newsprinters, wire operated typewriters, radio typewriters, etc.

The importance of the "speech-to-text-process is shown by the fact thatthe human race has been trying to develop stenography since 63 B C.,when Marcus Tullius Tiro invented his system of notae and took downCiceros orations; over 1000 shorthand systems have been devised forEnglish alone, but our best systems today, Gregg and Stenotype, leavemuch to be desired. This invention is specifically designed to provideimprovements over Gregg and Stenotype, and also provide improved speedas compared with typewriters, and communication machines based on, orsimilar to typewriters.

Fundamental, in this invention, has been the development of a veryeilicient and scientific keyboard design, based on rigorous andextensive statistical analysis of the kinds of letter combinations andtheir frequencies of use in the English language as we employ it ineveryday affairs. This analysis also included studies of the factorsinvolved in designing touch systems, including the relative dexterity ofeach of the fingers of the two hands, and also the psychologicalprinciples relating to our habit patterns, learning processes, and theassociative responses of our minds to words in the controlling of ourhands.

This keyboard design eliminates any shorthand code, phonetics, orabbreviations, so that the text is printed with all the letters of thealphabet and with normal spelling so that it is instantly readable byanyone. This is a great advance over Gregg, Pitman, Stenotype or otherusual forms of stenography, where persons without special training areutterly unable to read stenographic records, and where, with only rareexceptions, even trained stenographers cannot read each others notes.This straight Englis printed stenographic record is far more useful andvaluable in business, industry, government 3,225,883 PatentedA Dec. 248,

etc., than any coded stenography. The potential time and dollar savingsfrom this factor alone are very great. Such stenography also is fareasier to learn, than Gregg or Stenotype.

An important principle of this keyboard is that simultaneous lingeringis utilized instead of sequential lingering as on a typewriter. A groupof keys is provided at the left for initial consonants and consonantcombinations. A group of keys to the right of the initial consonants areintermediate vowels. Farther to the right are keys for final consonantsand consonant combinations, plus linal e. All of these keys could beoperated simultaneously (in contrast to a typewriter where the keys mustbe operated sequentially or the machine will jam). However, theoperation method is that one character may be selected from eachvertical column of 5 characters from left to right across the keyboard,skipping columns not containing desired characters for the particularword being written. This left to right sequence across the board is avery important psychological principle because it directly ties in withthe ingrained habit patterns of our whole lifetime, developed andreinforced by every word we have read and every word we have written.This keyboard, utilizing this psychological principle, is thereby muchsuperior to all typewriter keyboards, linotype keyboards, stenotypekeyboards, and any other keyboard where the sequence of characterselection does not progress continuously from left to right matching ourlong established reading and writing habits.

By selecting these initial consonants, intermediate vowels and finalconsonants, with one linger selecting each character, whole words may beprinted withone stroke of the keyswhole words, theoretically up to andincluding ten letters long with the ten lingers of the two hands. Thissimultaneous operation of the keys is a fundamental factor in the highspeed of these machines.

Statistical studies already made have shown that this keyboard willreadily be operable at speeds suitable for commerical dictation work,even though writing out the English language with full normal spelling,readable by everyone. Now, you will be able to ask your secretary forher dictation tape, and you can read it immediately as a iirst draft,making any corrections, improvements in wording, or insertions, bywriting notes on thetape, including writing on the back. Moreover, anytypist can type it (without tying up the time of your more expensiveprivate secretary), or a large volume of your Work can be typed byseveral typists simultaneously, because they, for the first time, canall read your secretarys dictation record-everybody can read it.Informal notes, or interoice memos can be sent as is, skipping entirelythe delays and costs of transcription, if desired. A

The principles of this invention have been applied to three diiierentforms of machines, a horizontally moving tape printer, a verticallymoving wider tape printer, and a wide sheet printer for 8%" by l1"sheets, legal sizes, and fan-fold paper and continuous forms.

An extremely limiting shortcoming of earlier simul-l taneouskey-operated stenographic machines has been that they print with randomgaps between letters of the same word in nearly every word printed. Amajor advance in the art contributed by this invention is closing up theprinting toward the left so that all such gaps are eliminated, and theresulting printed words are the same, in this respect, as provided bytypewriters, news printers, teletype, etc., with far greater lields ofusefulness for stenographic records than ever attainable heretofore.

The terms contiguous or adjoining are used hereafter in thisspecification and in the claims to specifically mean character printpositions which are closed up, right next to each other, with no gapsbetween letters of the same word, to distinguish this invention from theprior art where such gaps are prevalent, extremely undesirable, and atlyprevent the use of such printed records in many very broad and importantcommercial fields.

Next, the transcription of text can be done, on this machine, with farfewer operations than on the typewriter. Not only can most Words bewritten in a single stroke of the keys, but also in all these cases thespace following the word can be included in the same stroke. Also, acomma or period can be printed by the same stroke as the word. Thedramatic reduction of strokes in operating this keyboard as comparedwith the typewriter, news printer or teletype, etc., is illustrated byexamples from the statistical studies made in the course of developingthis invention. The frequencies used are the frequency with which we usea particular word in everyday speech and writing per 100,000 words oftext, as an average.

The three most frequently used words in English are contrasted in thefollowing tables which show the number of strokes per word as written onthe standard typewriter as compared with the same words Written on theWord writers of this invention:

Frequency Strokes on Strokes by Word of Use Typewriter Wordwrter PlusSpace Plus Space Examples of longer l-stroke words:

Frequency Strokes on Strokes by Word of Use Typewriter Wordwritcr PlusSpace Plus Space people 163 1, 141 163 should". 118 826 118 througlL 78624 78 though G7 536 67 Examples of 2-stroke words:

Frequency Strokes on Strokes by Word of Use Typewriter Wordwriter PlusSpace Plus Space loe-fore". 139 978 278 be-cause. 108 S64 216 coun-try.92 736 184 With-out 70 560 140 state-ment 38 380 76 Examples of 3-strokewords:

Frequency Strokes on Strokes by Word of Use Typewriter Wordwriter PlusSpace Plus Space an-oth-er 58 464 174 con-di-tions.. 38 418 114them-sel-vcs. 34 374 102 yes-tcr-day 33 330 99 Examples of long singlestroke words plus space:

Word Strokes by Type- Strokes by Word writer Writer friends 8 1 8 1 8 19 1 straight together in adjoining character positions without gapsbetween letters of the same word, is a very important and widely usefuladvance in the arts of stenography, transcription machines correspondingto the typewriter, and communication machines corresponding to newsprinters, teletypes, etc.

Also, a=s will be explained later, printing methods and mechanisms havebeen invented here which are both high speed and silent.

For handling numbers, three alternative methods are provided. Thesimplest, from the standpoint of keyboard and printer construction, isto spell out the digits. Each of these from 0-9 inclusive can berecorded with a single stroke of the keys, if zero is designated as oh,as in six oh three (603), which is the way we normally say zero as partof a number. The one exception is seven (written sev-en) which takes 2strokes.

As an alternative, shown in dotted lines and dotted characters inconjunction with the keyboard of FIG. l, an optional set of keys forselecting the digits 0-9 are provided along with an optional space barfor these digits. These Optional digit keys would be operated by theindex finger of the left hand (for l-S) and the right hand (6 0),utilizing the advantage that the index ngers are the most dextrousfingers 0f the hands. Also either index finger can operate the optionaldigit space bar along with selecting a digit, ior separately.Simultaneous selection of numbers 0 999 will be explained later inconnection with the Shift keyboard.

The Objects of this invention are listed as follows, it being emphasizedthat these objects are to be employed either individually or in anyuseful combination.

OBJECTS An important object of this invention is to provide a keyoperated printing machine capable of printing at dictation speeds,producing words normally spelled, including all the letters of thealphabet.

Another object of this invention is to provide a key board of controlkeys for a printing machine with lsaid keys in groups adapted to enableinitial consonants to be printed by operation of fingers of the lefthand, intermediate vowels to be operated by the thumbs, and finalconsonants plus final e to be printed by operation of keys by thefingers of the right hand.

Another object iof this invention is to provide a key board of controlkeys and printing mechanism adapted for simultaneous operation ofselected keys whereby full words may be printed by a single simultaneousstroke of the keys.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scientitically designedkeyboard so eflicient that approximately two-thirds of the words to bewritten in consecutive written or spoken text can be printed by theoperation of this keyboard by a single simultaneous stroke of selectedkeys for each such word printed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a keyboard so efiicientthat whole words plus the spaces to follow such words can be obtained bya single operating stroke of the keys `of the key board for each suchword and space.

Another object of this invention is to provide a keyboardpsychologically matching our long establishedreading and writing habitsof progression from left to right whereby the operator of said keyboardcan select any one character `of a left hand vertical column of keys,plus any one character of the vertical column next tothe right, and soon across the keyboard toward the right, also skipping any columns ofkeys not desired, and although all selected keys are operatedsimultaneously the printing mechanism will print the selected charactersin arcontinuous sequence reading from left to right in accordance withnormal writing and spelling practices.

Another object of this invention is to provide a key operated printingmachine utilizing a keyboard whereby each finger can control theselection and printing of -one character so that the ten fingers of thetwo hands may be used for the selection of as many characters as desiredup to and including ten characters printed by a Isingle simultaneousoperation or stroke of the keys.

Another object -of this invention is to provide a key operated printingmachine having a predetermined printing sequence from left to right on arecord sheet if all keys were operated simultaneously, but that whennnwanted characters are omitted in the selection of characters forprinting a word no spaces will be left between the characters which areprinted, such spaces being eliminated by automatic means adapted toclose up the gaps by causing characters to be printed in the firstavailable character spaces next adjoining a character located on itsleft, but with spaces between complete words.

Another object of the invention is to provide a printing machine havingone group of control keys for initial consonants, another group ofcontrol keys for vowels, and another group for final consonants wherebywords may be printed in full as normally spelled, said printing machinealso having means whereby the letters of the words printed are inadjoining locations from left to lright without any gaps between, thuseliminating a common and undesirable characteristic of various earlierstenographic printing machines.

Another object of the invention is to provide a printing machinecontrolled by simultaneous operation of keys whereby desired charactersmay be selected on a basis of only one finger being required t-o selecteach character while unwanted characters are skipped, and said printingmachine including means to close up any spaces corresponding to suchskipped characters, so that all the selected letters for a word areprinted in adjoining letter positions from left to right without anyspaces between letters of the same word.

Another object of the invention is to provide additional characters byproviding a shift control key as an alternative control key on thekeyboard, thereby providing both upper and lower case letters, oradditional punctuation marks or special characters. Two lshifts may beused, if desired, for substantially tripling the character capacity ofthe keyboard, while further extension of the same principles which willbe later shown and described for one shift will triple the charactercapacity of the printing mechanism also.

Another object of the invention is to provide the new and usefulcombination of a back space with a printing machine controlled bysimultaneous operation of selected initial consonant keys, vowel keys,and final consonant keys in said printing machine which records all thecharacters of a word in adjoining spaces without any gaps betweenletters.

Another object of the invention is to provide the new and usefulcombination of a tabular key, for indenting for the beginning ofparagraphs, for recording data in columns, for filling out forms, etc.,in a printing machine controlled by simultaneous operation of keys whereeach nger can select a character, and where said machine prints theselected characters in adjoining positions from left to rightl withoutany gaps between letters of the same word.

Another object of the invention is to provide the new and usefulcombination of a line space key to control vertical paper feed in aprinting machine adapted to print more than one fully spelled word onthe same line and where said printing machine is of the type controlledby the simultaneous operation of character selection keys.

Another object of the invention is to provide a keyboard for a printingmachine whereby the digits of two or three place numbers, for exampleany number from 0 to 999, can be selected and printed in a singlestroke.

As in the previous object, including selecting and printing the dollarsign ahead of the selected digits in the same operating stroke.

As in either of the two preceding objects including simultaneouslyselecting and printing either a comma, or a period used as a decimalpoint, following the digits. For example, my keyboard is so efficient inwriting numbers that the operator can select and print any of thefollowing in a single stroke: 0 to 999 inclusive; $1.; $999. and thecomma may be used for printing numbers in the thousands in only twostrokes: $927,642.

Another object of the invention is providing the capability of selectingand printing up to three digit numbers followed by either a sign or thecents sign Another object of the invention is providing the new anduseful combination of enabling short finger reaches desirable in a touchsystem by utilizing the method and means of selecting any one of fivecharacters in a group of 3 keys by operation of any of the 3 keysindividually, and by operating these three keys also as two differentpairs, any of these 5 characters being adapted for selection by a singlefinger, in combination with a printing machine adapted to print wholeWords normally spelled with letters in adjoining print positions withoutany gap between letters of the same word.

Another object of the invention is the provision of contact members andcircuitry actuated by any one or combination of three keys operated by asingle finger whereby the desired 1 of 5 possible characters is selectedand a corresponding circuit is energized and adapted to cause associatedmechanism to print the character selected.

Another object of the invention is to provide the new and usefulcombination of a word space key control in a printing machine adapted toprint more than one word on the same line, said printing machine beingcontrolled by simultaneously operated keys adapted so as to require onlyone finger to select each character to print whole words normallyspelled.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a simultaneouskey-operated printing mechanism a master set or' characters, means tosense which of these has been selected by operation of the keyboard andin what intended sequence from left to right, and means to reproduce theselected characters on a record sheet in that sarne sequence and inadjoining spaces from left to rightI while at the same time eliminatingany gaps corresponding to characters not selected for the same word.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simultaneouskey-operated printing machine adapted to print whole words normallyspelled on a tape moving horizontally from right to left.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simultaneouskey-operated printing machine adapted to print whole words normallyspelled, with code indicia (capable of controlling other mechanicalequipment, such as word printers, bookkeeping or accounting machines,computers, automatic machine tools, etc.) recorded along with words ornumbers or recorded separately, such coding may be visible spots,invisible spots, magnetized areas, areas having different electrical,thermal, or light conductivity, areas having different coefficient offriction for control purposes (see my U.S. Patent 2,493,848 and others)and so forth.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in simultaneouskey-operated power driven printing machines, means whereby only one setof selected characters are printed even though the operator may holddown the control keys for a time equivalent to more than one operatingcycle of the printer, thereby preventing repetitive printing.

Another object of the invention, particularly for use in the eld ofstenography, although not limited thereto, is providing a verticallymoving record sheet machine adapted to normally have one complete wordon a line, fully spelled, eventhough such a word may have required morethan one stroke of the keys for its completion, and controlled by asimultaneously operated keyboard, and

with the letters of a word printed in adjoining character spaces Withoutgaps between letters of the same word.

Another object of the invention is to provide another alternative formof the machine adapted to print on standard Wide sheets, such as 81/2"by 1l, and legal sizes, and controlled by simultaneously operatedcharacter keys and adapted to print words normally spelled, with thecharacters printed in adjoining character positions without gaps betweenletters of the same Word.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a simultaneouskey-operated machine, a plurality of printing means used alternativelyso that the waiting time between ending one line and starting the next,corresponding to the carriage return in a typewriter, is eliminated;when one line is finished, another printing element is adjacent to andavailable for printing the next line.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a simultaneouslyoperated key-controlled printer, particularly Where wide paper isemployed, means adapted for the use of fanfold paper, or paper in rollsor continuous forms, etc., intended to be divided into separate sheetslater of predetermined length, control means for the vertical paper feedwhereby after the printing of a bottom line, the sheet is automaticallyfed vertically by an amount providing a standard bottom margin for thatpage, plus a standard top margin for the next page, above and below apredetermined sheet separation line, usually preprinted on the paper, orperforated, or both.

Another object of the invention is to provide a Page Space control key,particularly for the form of machine referred to in the previous object,whereby when printing for a given page or form has been completed at anyheight on the page intermediate between the top and bottom print linepositions, this Page Space Control Key may be operated and the machinewill automatically feed the paper upward for the rest of that page andautomatically stop at the first line print position on the next page.Another object of the invention (particularly related to the above twoobjects) is to provide automatic means adapted to prevent operation ofthe character selection keys of the keyboard while the paper is beingfed vertically.

Another object of the invention is to provide very high speed markingmeans, including types reported to be substantially instantaneous, inthe forming of record characters so that high overall operating speedsare obtained for stenography, for increased production efliciency intranscription, and for increased eciency in written communication.

Another object of the invention is to provide the new and usefulcombination of a simultaneous key-operated printer adapted to printwhole words at a stroke in adjoining character positions on a recordsheet and printing means which are silent in operation, thereby greatlyaiding the concentration of a person dictating, by eliminating thedistraction of machine noise when recording the discussion of a meeting,or eliminating the noise, nerve strain, fatigue, and loss of eiciencywhen used for transcription work generally in various oice activities oreliminating the distracting racket of one or a battery of teletypemachines, or other communication machines.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent duringthe course of the following description and drawings in which likenumerals are employed to designate like parts throughout.

Note that not all parts of the drawings are necessarily to the samescale, and diagrammatic presentation is used extensively, it beingdeemed that simplicity and clarity are of maximum importance in showingthe principles of this invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE l shows a diagrammatic plan view of the basic keyboard used inthis invention, although other control keys are to be added for specialpurposes in various forms of the machine, as will be described later.The

dotted keys and dotted characters indicate optional digit keys and spacebar.

FIGURE 2 shows a diagrammatic plan View of an alternative keyboard wherea shift control provides additional characters, and the printer controlkeys tabulation and back space and a page control for fanfold, etc., areadded.

FIGURE. 3 is a circuit diagram showing how contacts under each verticalrow of three keys select and energize the one of the ve charactercircuits of that group of vertical keys operated.

FIGURE 4 is a circuit diagram and fragmentary showing to a cylinder ofmaster characters spread out, with horizontal space feed controls,feeding means, and printing head for the horizontal tape printer. Anoptional slave printer lfor making multiple copies is also shown.

FIGURE 5 is a combined fragmentary vertical section and diagrammaticshowing of the cylinder of master characters of FIGURE 4, and with itsset of rotating brushes.

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing a typical characterkey and single revolution clutch to prevent repeated printing of acharacter if a character key is held down longer than one operatingcycle.

FIGURE 7 is a diagrammatic fragmentary showing of how the cylinder ofmaster characters is modified with a keyboard having a shift control toapproximately double the number of characters obtainable.

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic showing of another form of the inventionproviding the recording of a combinational code suitable for controllingother machine equipment.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary diagrammatic side elevation, partly insection, of a code recording head for magnetically recording the code ofFIGURE 8.

FIGURE 10 is a circuit diagram with a fragmentary section of record tapeshowing how associated equipment can be directly controlled in additionto recording the characters and code as shown.

FIGURE 11 is a circuit diagram and fragmentary diagrammatic showing ofan alternative form of the inven- -tion for producing a verticallymoving record tape normally having one complete word on each line, evenif that word requires more than one stroke of the keys of the keyboard.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary diagrammatic plan view showing another formof this invention to provide a printer for Wide sheets such as 81/2 byl1, legal sizes, etc., and also shows Back Space mechanism.

FIGURE 13 is a circuitry and a fragmentary diagrammatic showing, partlyin section, of Line Space mechamsm.

FIGURE 14 is circuitry and a fragmentary diagrammatic showing ofportions of the wide sheet printer (8l/2 by 11) including the TabulatingKey control, with settable tab stops, and also including a verticalcross section taken along the line A-A of FIGURE l2, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

FIGURE 15 is a Vertical cross -section of FIGURE l2 taken along the lineB-B and looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary diagrammatic showing, with circuitry, ofanother form of the invention providing automatic vertical paper feedingmeans for the bottom margin of one page plus the top margin of the nextpage in fan fold paper, roll paper and continuous forms, together with amanually operable Page Space control; and keyboard locking meansautomatically operated while the paper is being fed vertically.

FIGURE 16A is a diagrammatic fragmentary end elevation showing the rightend of the platen, the sheet of paper being printed upon, and thephotoelectric unit adapted to sense the registration mark on fan fold orroll paper and adapted to control the automatic positioning ofsuccessive pages of paper, as will be described later.

FIGURE 17A is a diagrammatic fragmentary end elevation of charactermarking means alternative to that shown throughout the precedingfigures. FIGURE 17B is a fragmentary diagrammatic side elevation showingan electromagnetic type of alternative marking means such as shown inFIGURE 17A. FIGURE 17C is a fragmentary diagrammatic side elevation of apiezoelectric type of alternative marking means, such as shown in FIGURE17A.

Referring now to the drawings:

In FIGURE 1, a keyboard is `shown having vertical columns of keys ofthree keys each. Any one of the tive characters shown in a given columncan be selected with a single finger. For example, in the second columnfrom the left, depressing the top key would select the character V;moving the iinger down so that tcp and middle keys are depressedsimultaneously would select W; depressing the middle key alone wouldselect S; depressing the middle key and the lower key would select J;and

depressing the lower key alone would select Q. The sarne method ofcharacter selection in each vertical column applies from left to rightacross the keyboard. The home position of each hand for operation by thetouch system is preferably as follows: For the left hand, the littleinger is placed on S; the fourth finger on T; the third iinger o-n H;the index finger on R; and the thumb on E. For the right hand, the thumbon E; the index finger on R; the second finger on N; the third nger onD; and the little iinger on E. The little fingers of the two hands willreach outwardly to operate keys in the first and last columnsrespectively as needed, while either thumb will operate the space barbetween the vowels. When operated, this space will occur on the right ofthe character printed farthest to the right during the same stroke ofthe keys. The printing sequence, from left to right, of charactersselected simultaneously is from left to right by columns across theboard, starting with column No. 1 on the extreme left and ending wtihcolumn No. l2, skipping any column where no key is operated. Theprinting mechanism automatically closes up the printing toward the leftso that any columns not operated do not leave a gap in the printing, bymethods and mechanism which will be explained later.

Complete words plus the space following the word can be written at asingle simultaneous downward stroke of the keys, as shown by theexamples which follow:

SPEEDS in Column 2; P in Column 4; E in Column 6; E and space in Column7; D in Column 10. CUTS-C in Column 3; U in Column 6; space with eitherthumb; T in Column S in Column l2. COSTS-C in Column 3; O and space inColumn 6 (left thumb); S in Column 9; T in Column 10; S in Column 12.Where a word requires more than one stroke, it is Written by syllablesor in accordance with the operators preferences, using the space baronly with the last stroke to provide the space between words. Or, whereneeded, the operator would use the comma, or end the sentence with aperiod. With machines using the keyboard of FIGURE 1, numerals arespelled out.

As explained earlier, the dotted keys and characters indicate a set ofoptional digit keys and digit space bar when it may be preferred tosupply digit keys rather than spell out digits, primarily on keyboardsnot including the shif The same principles of the invention would beutilized in adding these optional digit keys and space bar -as arediscussed fully elsewhere, for both the keyboard and the printingmechanism. Note that all the letters of the alphabet are on the keyboardso every word can be spelled out in full.

In FIGURE 2, a more elaborate keyboard is shown where a shift key takesthe place of Column 1 of the first keyboard and the number of charactersavailable is nearly doubled. These shift characters are shown by thesmall characters located in the small areas on the keyboard diagram.Note that three full sets of digits from -0 through 9 are provided witha sign preceding them in the printing sequence and with a comma, aperiod useable as a decimal point, sign and mark following the digits inthe printing sequence, so that combinations of these numerals and signscan be printed very efficiently. Any other characters, if preferred,could be put on the shif keyboard, or a second shif control could beadded, substantially tripling the characters available. If desired,lower case letters could be printed without the shift" and capitals withthe shiftf However, for all stenography and for a very large amount ofwire communications such as news printers, printing telegraphs (WesternUnion) and teletype, capitals without lower case are fully acceptable.Keeping keyboards as simple as possible is very desirable, so that theuse of capitals alone is recommended. With this, the keyboard of FIGURE2 will meet very well all ordinary needs, while the keyboard of FIGURE 1provides a still simpler one, if desired.

In describing the construction and operation of the different formsshown of this invention, the horizontal tape printer will be discussedfirst, and in turn the vertical tape printer, then the wide sheetprinter (such as 81/2 by 11" pages), and then the fanfold printer. Eachof these latter forms of printer is easily understood by discussing onlywherein each diifers from the preceding forms of the invention.

In FIGURE 3, which shows the keys of FIGURE l diagrammatically, sets ofcontacts and associated circuitry are shown for selecting the onecharacter of the 5 characters available in each column of keys. Thecircuitry for Column 1, which is in the upper left column of FIGURE 1,will be traced. All the other columns are exactly the same. Also theenergizing of the spacing circuit will be traced, as well as the wordspace key.

In all the circuitry in this patent the convention is followed oflabelling leads plus which connect power to units operated (such yasmagnets, relays, motors, clutches, etc.) and labeling return circuitsminus as this is a distinct aid in visualizing and comprehending theoperation of the circuits, but this is not to be considered limiting orindicating that alternating current or reverse polarity D.C. could notbe used if desired.

In FIGURE 3, the power lead 20 is connected to the lead 21, which isconnected to the center Contact of the group of contacts under thecenter character key. The upper contact of this group is connected toboth the second contact from the top under the right hand character keyand to the second contact from the top of the contacts under the lefthand character key. The lowest contact under the center character key isconnected to the fourth contact from the top under the left handcharacter key. The top contact under the right hand character key isconnected to the outgoing lead 23 to energize the circuit to causeprinting of the character selected by depressing the right hand keyalone, in this case the apostrophe The third contact from the top underthe right hand character key is connected to the outgoing lead 25 toenergize the circuit to cause printing of the character selected bydepressing the center key only, in this case the quotation mark Thefourth contact under the right hand character key is connected to thethird contact from the top under the left hand character key. The fifthcontact from the top under the right hand character key is connected tothe outgoing lead 24 to energize the circuit to cause printing of thecharacter selected by depressing the right hand and center characterkeys simultaneously, in this case the beginning parenthesis mark-(. Thetop contact under the left hand character key is connected to theoutgoing lead 27 to energize the circuit to cause the printing of thecharacter selected by depressing the left hand key alone, in this casethe question mark The bottom contact under the left hand character keyis connected to the outgoing lead 26 to energize the circuit to causethe printing of the character selected when the center character key andthe left hand key are depressed simultaneously, in this case the closingparenthesis mark-). 28-28 is a common bar or plate which is moveddownwardly when any of the keys in this column of keys is depressed, inorder to control spacing of the paper tape for the character selected byoperation of keys in this column. Each column of keys has its ownseparate common bar or plate, as shown. The downward movement of plate28 closes the contacts 29 thereby connecting power from lead 20 to theoutgoing lead 22 which will cause feeding of the horizontal record tapefor the character selected in Column l.

In FIGURE 3, the operation of the keys and circuitry is as follows: Whenthe right hand character key is depressed alone, power flows from powerlead 20, through lead 2l to the second from the top of the contactsunder the center key, through the top contact under that key to thecontact second from the top under the right hand key, through the topcontact under that key and through the outgoing lead 23. When the centerkey and the right hand key are depressed together current ilows fromplus power lead 20, through lead 21 to the center contact under thecenter key, through the lowest contact under that key to the fourthcontact from the top under the left hand key, through the third contactunder that key to the fourth contact from the top under the right handkey, through the lowest contact under that key and through the outgoinglead 24. When the center key is depressed alone plus current tlows frompower lead 20, through lead 21 to the second contact from the top underthe center key, through the lowest contact under that key to the fourthcontact from the top under the left hand key, through the third contactfrom the top under that key to the fourth contact from the top under theright hand key, and through the third contact from the top under thatkey to the outgoing lead 25. When the center key and the left hand keyare depressed together current flows from plus power lead 20, throughlead 21 to the second contact from the top under the center key, throughthe third contact from the top under that key to the fourth contact fromthe top under the left hand key, through the lowest contact under thatkey through the outgoing lead 26. When the left key is depressed alonecurrent flows from plus power lead 20, through lead 21 to the secondcontact from the top under the center key, through the upper contactunder that key to the second contact from the top under the left handkey, through the top contact under that key to the outgoing circuit 27.The depressing of any of the character keys in Column l closes contacts29 so that plus current from power lead 20 flows through the outgoinglead 22 labeled SP (space). All the other groups of three keys arrangedin vertical columns on the keyboard (but in horizontal groups in thecircuit diagram FIGURE 3) (see the character labeling which identifieseach key and key combination in the keyboard diagrams and in the circuitdiagram of FIGURE 3) operate in the same manner. When the Word Space keyin FIGURE 3 (labelled Space in FIGURE 1) is depressed closing contacts30, plus current ows from the power lead 20 through contacts 30, andthrough the outgoing lead 31, which will cause the horizontal recordtape to be moved a character space to the left without printing anycharacter in that space, as will be explained later. Note in FIGURE 3that each group of outgoing leads from the character selection keys islabeled by column numbers Which correspond to matching labeling ofincoming leads where these are connected in FIGURE 4. The circuitry ofFIG. 3 forms character connecting means which serve to energize themaster characters corresponding to the actuated keys.

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic showing of the methods, circuitry andmechanism of the horizontal tape printer. Part of the mechanism for thisis shown in FIGURES 5 and 6.

In FIGURE 4, the upper portion of the diagram spread out from left toright (not to scale) and designated generally as 32, is the cylindricalsurface shown in vertical section (with the brush circuitry showndiagrammatically) in FIGURE 5. This mechanism broadly is a commutatorand brushes combination. The commutator 32 forms a sequence means. Inthis case it is simpler to have the commutator a hollow fixed cylinderwith the brushes rotating, than to follow the usual arrangement ofhaving lixed brushes with the commutator rotating. The outgoing leadsfrom the keyboard keys and circuitry are led up through the mountingplate 33 of FIGURE 5, and are internally connected, through the crosssection of the cylindrical commutator, which is insulating material, to

each corresponding character or space segment, which is made ofelectrically conductive material, on the outer surface of thecylindrical commutator. The brushes, when rotated as a group, will sweepacross these conductive character and space segment surfaces scanningeach column of characters successively.. Only one character area in anycolumn will be energized at a time and only those character spacesegments will be actuated in columns where character areas areenergized. The Word Space segment 34 in FIGURE 4 will be energized onlywhen the (Word) Space key of the keyboard is depressed. The abovedescribed action is readily understood by visualizing the vertical rowof brushes (generally designated as 35A in FIGURE 4) as moving fromtheir initial starting position, as shown, toward the right, across eachcolumn of conductive character segments, including that columns spacesegment, and finally across the Word Space segment at the extreme right.Note that the moving brush which passes over the space segmentsencounters each space segment slightly before any of the charactersegments in the respective columns is contracted. When an energizedspace segment is encountered, and for the duration of such contact,current flows through this brush, along lead 36, to the electromagneticclutch 37. This current clutches in the rotation of motor 38 (which runscontinuously while the machine is in use) with appropriate paper feedmeans (shafting and driving pulley), shown generally as 39-39 to feedthe record tape 40 toward the left. I have inquired of manufacturers ofelectromagnetic clutches, in connection with this invention, and theyassure me that they already make units which clutch to full speed ordeclutch to stop in 5 one-thousandths of a second, so it is evident thatpaper feeding, or other electromagnetic clutch actions in this inventioncan be very high speed indeed. The drive pulley can have sprockets andthe tape can have matching sprocket holes, if desired. The tape record40 is treated facsimile paper or electrosensitive paper well known tothe art, where passage of electricity there-through electrochemically(or by other means) produces a contrasting visible mark. Experts in thiseld have assured me that this marking is substantiallyinstantaneous-requiring approximately zero time. Here again, I amemploying printing means of very high speed capability. This printingalso is silent in operation.

A slave printer for making a plurality of records of the textsimultaneously is shown at the lower right of FIG- URE 4. This principleof using multiple printing heads and record feeding means to produce aplurality of records simultaneously can be used on the vertical tapeprinter and on the wide sheet printers of this invention also.

FIGURE 6 shows means to prevent repetitive printing in case an operatorholds down one or more keys a time greater than that equivalent to oneoperating cycle. This mechanism also automatically starts the brushgroup 35A always from the same starting position and assures that thesebrushes start scanning intantly when the character keys have beendepressed by a predetermined amount chosen as optimum for starting theprinting cycle. In FIGURE 6, 41 represents the driven portion of asingle revolution clutch rotated by shaft 42 (see FIGURE 4).

41 is normally prevented from rotating by its arm portion 43 abuttingagainst the stop portion 44 of the common bail lever 45. Lever 45 ispivoted at 46 and is pulled in a clockwise direction about pivot 46 byspring 47 against stop 48. The rod portion 49 extends across under allthe character keys and space key. At the right hand end of the commonbail lever 45, the pivoted toothed rack member 50 engages the idler spurgear 51, which in turn engages the toothed rack member 52, which isslidably mounted to move in and out along a radius of the rotatablemember 41, as shown. The driven member 41 is connected by appropriateshafting (not shown) to rotate the rotatable brush assembly generallydesignated as 35- 35A in FIGURE 5. The brush assembly 35A forms asequence scanning means. This assembly is mounted on ball bearings 53and 54 and the counterweight 55 is provided for mounting opposite thecenter of mass of the brushes for dynamic balancing the assembly. Such acounterweight may be precisely adjusted by making it slightly too heavyand then drilling out a little material at a time, as represented at56-56, by well known dynamic balancing techniques routinely used inbalancing motor armatures, gyroscope rotors, etc. To provide the minimummass for the rotatable brush assembly all structural material may be cutaway except that necessary for supporting the ball bearings, the brushmountings, the dynamic balancer, and the upper end surface supportingthe circular slip rings 56A. Very light kinds of materials, such asmagnesium, plastics, etc., may be employed to reduce the accelerationand deceleration forces required for rapid starting and stopping.

When any key bar, such as 57 (FIGURE 6), is depressed sufliciently tomove the common bail lever 49 downwardly and in a counter clockwisedirection about pivot 46, the rack member 50 moves upwardly causing spurgear 51 to rotate clockwise, and driving rack member 52 to movedownwardly behind the portion 43 of 41. By the time the stop portion 44has moved up suiciently to disengage 43, 52 has already moved to anintercepting position. With the slip clutch continuously endeavoring torotate 41, the moment obstruction 44 is Withdrawn, 41 will rotate,carrying with it the scanning brush assembly 35-35A. The portion 43 ofthe single revolution clutch will be stopped by 52 and held there, in aposition where the scanning brushes 35 are to the right of the wordspace sector 34 (see FIGURE 4) in an insulated inactive zone, until theoperator lets up the keyboard keys. As these keys move upwardly, themember 45 rotates clockwise about pivot 46, bringing the stop portion 44back into interception position with portion 43 of 41 before member 52,in rising, moves lout of obstructing engagement with 43. By the time 45has moved up against stop 48, portion 43 has rotated counter clockwiseto its normal abutment position against stop 44. This design has theadvantage that the stopping position for 41 is not critical (because thebrushes 35 will be contacting an inactive area of the commutator) andthe mounting (not shown) for the interceptor member 52 can be made ofthe yielding type to absorb impact silently.

The scanning brushes of assembly 35-35A will have the same relativemotion from left to right across the commutator character segments asthe moving record strip 40 will have relative to the marking contacts 58bearing on the facsimile paper. Current, as picked off the energizedcharacter commutator segments, will be passed through the facsimilepaper to the common contact bar 59, whichis connected to the return sideof the power circuit.

If it is desired to obtain more space between adjacent markingelectrodes in a vertical group of marking electrodes as an aid inconstruction, such electrodes can be arranged in a slightly slanting rowor can be staggered alternately, etc., as long as the correspondingscanning brushes are arranged in the same manner.

In this Way the method is employed of providing character selection keysto simultaneously select characters from a master set of characters andto automatically reproduce these selected characters in a predeterminedorder of print positions from left to right on a record, includingautomatically closing up the print positions toward the left for printpositions not selected (note that the record member 40 is fed relativeto the marking elements 58 only when a column containing a selectedcharacter, or the word space, is being scanned) so that characters ofthe same Word are printed in adjoining print positions (contiguous toeach other).

FIGURE 7 shows how the commutator 32 of FIGURE 4 can be modied toaccommodate the additional character capacity of the keyboard of FIGURE2, Where the additional characters are selected by operating the shiftcontrol 63 at the same time as the character selection keys. In FIGURE7, the extended commutator 60 has the shift characters in alternatevertical columns following the non-shift characters, as shown in FIGURE4, bearing in mind that in the shift keyboard of FIGURE 2, the shiftcontrol key takes the place of the character keys for the apostrophe,the beginning parenthesis, the quotation mark, the ending parenthesis,and the question mark of the FIGURE 1 keyboard, and these characters areprovided among the shift characters, as shown in FIGURE 2. In FIGURE 7,note also the addition of the shift power segments 61 and the group ofthree brushes 62 which scan these shift segments. These segments 61 andthe brushes 62 determine the timing of the energizing of the selectedcharacters of the commutator 60 in order to select between non-shift andshift characters and to coordinate the spacing of the horizontal recordstrip 40 of FIGURE 4. In FIGURE 7, the corresponding conductivecharacter segments for the non-shift and shift key selections areinternally connected together. For example, the V and the are internallyconnected; W and (beginning parenthesis); and S and S; M and l/4; K and3/4, and so forth throughout the commutator 60.

In the forms of the invention utilizing the shift keyboard, the lead 20of FIGURE 3 is not connected directly to plus power but instead isconnected to the slip ring brush lead 64 which has its slip ringconnected to the center scanning brush of the group 62 (see FIGURE 7).This may be considered as the output lead, While the scanning brushesabove and below the center scanning brush of the group 62 may beconsidered as the input brushes, and the segments 61 act as automaticswitching and timing elements to selectively energize the lead 20 ofFIGURE 3.

When the scanning brush assembly 3535A in FIG- URE 7 moves from left toright across the commutator 60 and the shift control 63 is not operated,power flows from the plus supply through the center and upper contactsof shift key 63 to the lowest brush of group 62 (FIGURE 7). While thebrush assembly is passing over the non-shift characters, for example V WS J Q, current flows from the energized lowest brush of group 62 throughthe commutator segment 61 and out through the center brush of group 62.This center brush is connected to lead 20 of FIGURE 3 which thensupplies plus power to all the character key circuits, as previouslyexplained in connection with FIGURE 3. This current then flows to thecharacter and space segments selected by the keys operated, and thesecharacters are printed as previously discussed. However, as soon as thescanning brushes 62 (FIGURE 7) move into a vertical column area forshift characters, then the circuit between the lowest brush and thecenter brush of group 62 is broken and no current ows to the shiftcharacter segments so they are not printed. Note also that although thecharacter spacing segments 65 are the length of both the non-shif andshift characters, these segments are energized by lead 20 (FIGURE 3)only while the brushes 35A are scanning the characters being printed. Inthis way the record strip is fed while the characters are being printedbut not otherwise, except when the word space segment 66 is energized byoperation of the word space key on the keyboard of FIGURE 2.

When the shift key 63 (FIGURE 7) is operated, power passes through itscenter and lower contacts and energizes the upper brush Aof the group62. Then, when the scanning brushes are passing over the non-shiftcharacters, such as -VWSJQ- no current iiows to the center brush ofgroup 62, but when the scanning brushes are passing Iover the shiftcharacters current passes from the upper brush to the center brush ofgroup 62 energizing lead 20 of l1FIGURE 3 and the selected shiftcharacters are printed and the record strip `4i) is fed during thisprinting. Note that by this simple addition of three scanning brushes,three slip rings added to the group 56A (FIGURE 5), not shown, and threeslip ring brushes added to the group 67 (not shown) and the switchingsegments 6I doubling of all the contacts under the character selectionkeys is eliminated, plus elimination of added spring loading of thesekeys of the double sets of contacts. Thus maximum lightness `of touch ofthe keys is obtained, and 143 contacts and their connections areeliminated which otherwise would be required.

Various methods may be used for making the commutator units of mastercharacters. One method would be to iirst make a hollow cylinder ofinsulating material such as phenolic resin, epoxy casting resin, `orother preferred material. Then an engraving machine could be used toengrave the characters in their respective locations on the outside ofthis cylinder. Then metal could be deposited in the engraved portions tomake them conductive. For example, liinely powdered copper could bemixed with just enough epoxy resin to act as an adhesive and binder (butnot to render it non-conductive). Fine holes could be drilled througheach character area and the cylinder wall behind it for introducing andconnecting wires to each character area. Then, the characters could beelectroplated on their outside surfaces with hard chromium to protectfrom corrosion and to provide excellent wear properties. Finally thecylinder could be cylindrically ground to give a smooth and true surfacefor the scanning brushes to ride upon.

FIGURE 8 shows how the master character areas can be increasedvertically to include a code of dots where it is desired to record sucha code along with the letters, punctuation marks or numerals, etc. Thedot code can be treated the same as the master character it representsand the two would be internally connected electrically. Suflicientadditional scanning brushes would be added to reproduce the dots inaddition to the letters, etc., as illustrated in FIGURE 8.

FIGURE .9 represents alternative means for magnetically recording a dotcode. In this view, consider the record strip 68 as moving toward thereader. A magnetizable coating 69, which may be magnetic iron oxide, iscarried by the record strip 68 beneath the recording head, generallydesignated as 70. This may consist of a group of individualelectromagnets arranged across the tape transversely to the direction ofmovement yof the tape and energized individually or in combination, toreproduce the dot code ofthe master characters energized ascorresponding dot areas of magnetized material. Where preferred, the dotcode could be recorded separately from, or without, the alpha numericcharacters, although it is expected that in most situations having acontrol tape interpreted with readable characters would be preferable.

-FIGURE 10 illustrates how readily the principles and circuitry of thisinvention lend themselves to operating communication equipment at adistance. In addition to making a readable record on the machine beingkey operated, the circuits can be tapped as shown to operate remotemachines. Direct wire connections can be ernployed. Alternatively,signals from the circuits shown can be used to control tone generatorsso that corresponding tones in various combinations can be sent overtelephones, wire lines, or by radio, with corresponding selectivelyresponsive circuitry (such as band pass filter sections) can beIemployed to selectively energize facsimile or other marking means toreproduce the characters transmitted and control the record feed. Thegroup of leads bracketed at A in FIGURE 10 may be employed if thecharacters alone are to be transmitted. The group of leads bracketed atB may be employed if the code alone is to be transmitted. Both the A and`B leads can be used if both the characters and the code are to betransmitted.

FIGURE 11 shows diagrammatically modications of the invention to providea vertically moving tape. This may be particularly useful forstenography. The tape may be roll, or fanfold, which is particularlyconvenient to handle, as well known with the Stenotype. The printing inFIGURE 11 is normally one full word (plus comma or period) to each line,even with words which may require more than one stroke. The mechanism isshown with a l5 letter capacity per word, across the tape. Statisticalstudies of written and spoken English show only up to 14 letters in thebasic list constituting the different words in 78% of the language as weuse it regularly. -If desired, the 15 letter capacity per line could beincreased to 20 letters -or more, using these same principles. However,any Word exceeding the letter capacity provided can be continued on thenext line.

Either the keyboard of FIGURE l or FIGURE 2 can be used with any of theprinters of this invention, with the adaptations made as explained forFIGURE 2 keyboard, but for simplicity, FIGURE 1 keyboard will be used toexplain the vertical tape machine.

In FIGURE 1l, the printing head l71 extends all across the width of thefacsimile tape '74. This printing head 71 consists, preferably, of 7horizontal rows of small c-onductors set in 5 vertical columns `for eachcharacter print position, with adequate lateral space between each printposition for a small space between each letter. As discussed above, atotal of l5 letter positions across the tape are normally provided.These small conductors are positioned and carried in a block ofinsulating material. In use, the smooth front surface of this printinghead contacts the electro-sensitive tape which is held in resilientpressure contact therewith by a conductive plate (not shown) behind therecord sheet to provide the common return circuit for the individualmarking contact elements of printing head 71. Various paper guides,pressure rollers, etc. may be used as desired tol handle the paper, theselection ofthe most appropriate ones of these being left to theindividual preferences of persons skilled in the art who are quitefamiliar with them.

Leads from the marking contacts of print head 71 are mounted in anapproximate semicircle, as shown at 72-72-72. These leads, or contactareas connected to them, also are 7 rows high, forming a fixedcommutator area for selectively energizing the marking contacts of printhead 71. 73 is a radial brush arm, also consisting of 7 brushes arrangedvertically to sweep across and successively contact the commutator areasfrom left to right. When any energized brush contacts a commutatorsegment, the print head element connected to that segment marks a spoton the record paper. The total sum of these prints the words, as shownon record tape 74 (greatly enlarged) in FIGURE ll.

The brush arm 73 sweeps radially clockwise in the same manner that therecord strip 40 of FIGURE 4 is fed from right to left. The same motor 38(FIGURE 4), electromagnetic clutch 37, and single revolution clutchcontrol 41 of FIGURE 6 and static commutator with rotatable scanningbrushes of FIGURE 5 and FIGURE 4 are used. In FIGURE 11, the outputshaft of electromagnetic clutch 3:7 (FIGURE `4) is coupled to drive theradial brush arm 73. This brush arm also carries a toothed Ilth. .75.The tension spring 76 constantly exerts a strain tending to rotate brusharm 73 in the counter clockwise direction. The pawl member 77, pulled byspring 78, normally rides over the teeth of ratchet 75 and normallyprevents counterwise rotation of brush arm 73. Seven slip ring brushesand slip rings, as represented at 79, are connected tov the 7 characteroutput slip ring brushes of group =67 (FIGURE 5) and feed selectedcharacter signals into the brush arm 73 which distributes them t-o thesuccessive print positions of print head 71. Note that the brush arm 73is driven to the right only as characters are being printed, becauseonly then are control spacing signals being received by electromagneticclutch 37 (FIGURE 4). When no signal is being received byelectromagnetic clutch 37, the pawl 77 and ratchet 75 hold the brush arm73 motionless, waiting. This automatically causes characters to beprinted in adjoining (contiguous) print positions, with n-o gaps betweenletters of the same word. When a word requires more than 1 stroke, thebrush arm 73 waits wherever the last selected character of the previousstroke left it, and then starts moving clockwise again as the space andcharacter signals of the second stroke are received. This actioncontinues until the last stroke of the word, when the Space Key (whichon this machine is relabeled Line Key) is operated along with the laststroke. This Line Key also represented by y80 in FIGURE 111, closes theadditional pair of contacts 81. This action conducts current from pluspower to the electromagnets 82 and 83. When 82 is energized it moves theangle member S4 counterclockwise about the pivot 85. This moves thefloating rack member 86 with ratchet teeth, toward the left,additionally stretching tension spring 87 and riding over the teeth Vofrecord feed roller ratchet gear 88. The spring 89 tends to rotate theratchet member 86 clockwise about pivot 90, thereby maintaining theengagement between the ratchet teeth of member 86 and the ratchet gear88. A roller detent, well known to the typewriter art (not shown) keepsthe ratchet gear 88 from reversing while the rack 86 is riding over theteeth of ratchet gear I88. The energizing of electromagnet S3, by theclosing of contacts 81, attracts the lever 91 toward the left. The lowerend of 91 carries the iioating latch member 92 by pivot 93. The tensionspring 94 tends to rotate latch 92 clockwise about pivot 93. When magnet83 is energized, floating link 92 is moved to the left and the latchportion at its left end moves clockwise engaging the portion 95 of pawlmember 77.

When the Line Key 80 is released and magnet 83 is de-energized, thestretched tension spring 96 pulls lever 91 back against its stop 97.This moves latch member 92 back toward the right, and also pulls pawlmember 77 out of engagement with ratchet 75. Then'tension spring 76rotates brush member 73 counter clockwise until it rests against itsstop 98. This action closes contacts 99, which conducts plus power tomagnet 100. Energizing magnet 100 moves latch member 92 counterclockwiseabout its pivot 93, and this in turn releases pawl member 77 which isthen pulled by tension spring 7S back into engagement with ratchet gear75.

When the Line Key 80 is released this also de-energizes Magnet 82. Thetension spring' 87 pulls the ratchet rack member 86 toward the right andthis action spaces the record tape vertically by one line, 'ready toprint on the next line. The line key 80 can be operated by itself andreleased to space the record sheet additionally vertically, as might bedone to indicate paragraphs, or for other purposes. A conventional knob(not shown) can be mounted on the paper feed roller shaft to over ridethe roller detent and move the record sheet upwardly (especially forinserting the sheet).

In FIGURES 12, 13, 14 and 15 diagrammatic modifications of the inventionare shown to provide a wide sheet printer for standard 81/2" by 11"pages, legal sizes, etc., for regular transcription work, comparable tothe office typewriter, but capable of much higher production 18 speed,silent operation, and taking dictation directly with such a machine,where desired.

This machine eliminates the usual typewriter carriage, with the manydesign problems involved with accurately driving it back and forth,accelerating and decelerating its mass, etc. Instead, the paper is movedvertically only, and very light weight printing means are movedhorizontally to effect the printing. The usual waiting time,corresponding to carriage return is eliminated by having two printingheads used alternately and so positioned and correlated that when onefinishes printing a line, the other is ready to move into position tostart the next line while the paper is being line spaced for the nextline.

For this machine,` either keyboard (of FIGURES l and 2) may be used, aspreferred, the modifications for FIGURE 2 keyboard having beenexplained. The fixed commutator of FIGURE 4 and FIGURE 5, or FIGURE '7,of master characters is utilized along with the single revolution clutchmechanism of FIGURE 6. The electromagnetic clutch 37 (FIGURE 4) is used,in this machine, to drive the traveling belt with two print heads.During printing, this belt will be driven only' as space signals arereceived, so that columns of characters not energized by selection keyswill not cause gaps between letters of the same word-printing will beautomatically closed up toward the left, as discussed for the previouslydescribed forms of this invention.

In FIGURE 12, 101 is a wide record sheet carried by the platenl 102,which has an electrically conductive surface behind the printing line toprovide a` common return circuit for the electrical print signals. Oneway of providing this electrically conductive surface would be to makethe platen of electrically conductive rubber. The traveling belt 10B-103 carries the two print heads 104 and 105, which contact the recordsheet on the platen side and at the same time carry contact brushesriding separate contact bars for conducting print signals, etc., as willbe explained in detail. The travelling belt rides on and is supported bythe two sprocket pulleys 106 and 107, 106 preferably being the idlerpulley and 107 being the driving pulley. The space between the pulleysand inside the loop of the belt is occupied by a lstatic island-likestructure, generally designated as 108, which carries the contact barson which the contact brushes of the print heads ride. As shown in FIGURE15, which is a vertical cross section taken at the line B-B of FIGUREl2, looking in the direction of the arrows, the horizontally extendingportions of 108 support the belt 103 along its entire length, thusproviding uniform pressure of the print heads against the record sheetfor good electrical contact for character printing.

FIGURE 14 includes a vertical cross section taken along the line A-A ofFIGURE 12 looking in the direction of the arrows. In FIGURE 14, printhead 104 is shown diagrammatically with 7 vertical contact elements(preferably individually spring loaded) contacting the record sheet 101which is carried by the platen 102. These 7 contact elements do theprinting, as they transmit character signals singly and in variouscombinations to reproduce the master characters selected and energizedby the operation of the keyboard, while the print head 104 travelshorizontally toward lthe right in synchronism with the scanning brushestravelling horizontally across the energized master characters andenergized space controls. The print head 104 also carries 9 brusheslower down on the other side, adjacent the island-like structure 108.The top 7 brushes of these nine ride conductive bars 109 which areinternally connected to the character slip ring brushes of the group 67shown in FIGURE 5. The space slip ring brush 214 (FIGURE 5) of group 67is connected to the electromagnetic clutch 37 (FIGURE 4). The outputshaft of electromagnetic clutch 37 (FIGURE 4) for this wide papermachine is coupled to the sprocket belt driving pulley 107 of FIGURES l2and 14.

Note that although there are 9 vertically arranged brushes on the rearof the print head 104, there are only 7 contact bars 109 for them tocontact on the side of 103 facing the platen. The top 7 of these 9brushes are vinternally connected to the corresponding 7 conductivemarking electrodes of the print head which print on the record sheet.The bottom 2 brushes, of the group of 9, are internally connectedtogether and serve to close the circuit between the two contact bars 110(see FIGURES 13, 14 and 15) for tabular horizontal spacing, and `othercontrols, as will be explained later. The contact bars 110 extend as acontinuous pair (see FIGURE 15) from a point indicated by the dottedline 111 (FIGURE 12) toward the left, and around the circular end ofstructure 108 and terminate opposite the dotted line position 112, wherethe bottom two brushes of the group of 9 will ride off the ends of theContact bars 110 and this circuit will be broken. The belt 103 will thencome to a stop with one of the two print heads in position to startprinting the next line.

In FIGURE 14, 113 generally designates a slip friction clutch which isadjusted so that it does not slip when action of the electromagneticclutch 37 drives the belt 103, but this friction clutch can beoverridden for back spacing or for manually positioning the print head104 or 105 by turning the knob 114 (FIGURES 12 and 14).

It is a matter of design choice whether to use an electromagnetic clutch37, which automatically brakes to a stop when `de-energized and clutcheswhen energized, or one which clutches when energized and stops but isnot held braked when de-energized. Both types are available. In thiswide sheet printer the type which brakes when deenergized is believedpreferable, and then the slip clutch 113 is needed. However, where thebraked type is not used, and there is suicient friction in the system toprovide good stopping without brake action, the slip clutch can beomitted if preferred.

Note that in this wide sheet printer, the Visibility of the alreadytyped text is excellent, each character becoming visible immediatelyafter it is printed.

The backspace mechanism is shown in FIGURE 12, where 115 is thebackspace key, pivoted at 116, and normally held up against the stop 117by action of the tension spring 118. The ratchet rack member 119 isattached to key 115 by pivot 120A. 'Ihe rack 119 has a slotted portion120A which cooperates with a stud 121 to move the ratchet teeth of rack119 into engagement with the ratchet gear 122, mounted on shaft 12'3coupled to sprocket pulley 106 to drive the latter in a counterclockwise direction to backspace the belt 103 and the print heads 104and 105. Release of back space key 115 enables tension spring 118 toreturnkey 115 and rack 119 to their initial positions, with 119 out ofengagement with ratchet gear 122.

In FIGURE 13 the Line Space key and associated mechanism are shown.Operation of the Line Space key in this machine automatically (1) spacesthe paper vertically, and (2) automatically moves the waiting print headinto position for starting the printing of the next line without delay,and (3) locks the character keys of the keyboard momentarily so printingcannot take place while the paper is being fed vertically. The methodsand apparatus used are as follows:

In FIGURE 13, the record sheet 101 is carried by the platen 102, on oneend of which is the ratchet gear 124 operatively engaged with theratchet rack member 125 which is attached by pivot 126 to bell crank127, pivoted at 120, and pulled by tension spring 129 to its normalposition against stop 130. The spring 131 holds rack E125 in operatingengagement. If the operator wants to turn the paper backwards, thehorizontally bent over portion 132 of rack 125 can be pressed downwardlywith one hand until rack 125 abuts against stop 133 which disengagesrack 125 from ratchet gear 124, and the operator can turn the platenbackwards with the other hand using either of the platen knobs 134-134.

The Line Space key is operated subsequently to the printing of the lastword or letter group on a given line, and transmits current from pluspower through the contacts 135 to electromagnet 136. Thereupon magnet136 moves bell crank 127 in a clockwise direction about pivot 128thereby moving ratchet rack 125 toward the right riding over the ratchetteeth of ratchet 124. The platen 102 is prevented from reverse rotationby the use of a roller detent (not shown) well known to the typewriterart, which can be easily over ridden by positive feeding actions or bymanual turning of a platen knob. When the Line Space key is released,the tension spring 129 pulls the bell crank 127 in a counter clockwisedirection about pivot 128 and against stop 130, which action movesratchet rack 125 toward the left and rotates platen 102 to feed therecord sheet 101 vertically for printing on the next line.

When the Line Space key is depressed, the following actions also occurto `automatically position the waiting printing head for commencing theprinting of the next line. Plus power passes through the lead 137 to oneof the contact bars 110 (FIGURES 13, 14 and 15). The lower two brushes(internally connected) of lthe print head (FIGURES 12 and 14) inposition on the side :away from the platen, in FIGURE 12, passes currentto the lower contact bar of the pair (FIGURE 13). This current passesthrough the contacts 138 energizing relay 139. The closing of the relaycontacts 140 causes relay 139 to set up its own holding circuit, powercoming through lead 141 from lead 142. This holding circuit will stayset up until the two lower contact brushes of the print head run oit theend of the pair of contact bars 110, thus breaking the supply circuit torelay 139, stopping the belt in print position, and unlocking thekey-board. While relay 139 is energized it is also supplying pluscurrent through lead 141 and the closed contacts 143. The lead 144 is-connected to the electromagnetic clutch 37 (FIGURE 14) which causes thebelt 103 to be driven as long as clutch 37 is energized. Lead 145(FIGURE 13), connected to lead 144, supplies plus current toelectromagnet 146, shown in FIGURE 16. This same electromagnet 146, andits associated mechanism, are used in both the 81/2" by 11" wide sheetprinter being described now, and also in the modification of thisprinter to handle wide fanfold paper, continuous forms, etc. The purposeis to lock up the keyboard momentarily while the sheet is being fedvertically so that printing can not occur during this paper feedingoperation. When the electromagnet 146 is energized the bell crank member147 is rot-ated clockwise about pivot 148. The vertical portion 149 ofbell crank 147 extends `transversely across the keyboard under the keys,as shown, parallel to the keybar comb 153 and normally being held out ofthe way of the key bars 152 by tension spring 150 and against stop '151.When magnet 146 is energized, however, the vertical portion 149 moves tothe right intercepting and blocking opetr ation of any of the characterselector keybars 152.

In FIGURE 14, the Tab Key 197 may be operated for indenting forparagraphs, or for tabulating for printing columns of text, for fillingout forms or for other similar work. A full set of individual tab stops,designated generally at 19S, may be provided across the sheet width, onefor each print position. In FIGURE 14, tab stop 199 is pulled back to aninoperative position, while tab stop 200 is pushed forward to `anoperative location, and is shown in cooperative relationship with the'bottom por-tion of print head 105. The whole group of settable tabstops are mounted on a common bail member 201, pivoted at 202 andnormally pulled by tension spring 203 up against stop 204. In FIGURE 14,bail 201 is shown in the operated position, Iwhere a beveled face (notshown) on the lower portion of print head 105 (but shown `on print: head104) has cammed settable stop 200 downwardly,` thereby breaking thecontacts 205. The circuit action is as follows:

In FIGURE 14, when the Tab Key 197 Iis operated, plus current owsthrough lead 206, through the contaots 207, into the plus side of relay208, out the minus side of relay 208, along lead 209, through thecontacts 205 (which are normally closed) and then to the minus side ofthe power supply. When relay 208 is thus energized it sets up its ownholding circuit, plus current owing through lead 206, along lead 210,through the lower contacts of contact group 211, into the plus side ofrelay 208 and out through its negative return circuit which has alreadybeen traced. This holding circuit stays energized until the nextsettable tab stop in operative position is cammed down by the movingprint head on the side away from the platen, this situation being theone shown in FIGURE 14. As long as rel-ay 208 is energized, plus currentis owing also to the electromagnetic clutch 37 which couples the motordrive 38 to the traveling belt 103 and print heads 104 and 105. Theelectromagnetic clutch 37 is thus energized by plus current owingthrough lead 206, along lead 210, across the lower contacts of 211, uplead 212, across the upper two contacts of contact group 211 and intothe plus side of the electromagnetic clutch 37, and out its minus `sideto the negative side of the power supply. f

FIGURE 16 shows the modifications of the wide sheet printer 81/2" by 11,legal sizes, etc.) to print on fanfold, paper, roll paper or continuousforms. The primary additional features are means to automatically sensewhen the bottom of a page length has been reached; and to automaticallyfeed the paper vertically by an amount equal to the bottom margin ofthat page plus the top margin of the next page, automatically stoppingthe paper, for printing on the first line of the following page. Thepaper would be separated later along page predetermined separation linesto provide sheets of uniform length. The keyboard is to be automaticallylocked while the paper is being fed vertically. Also, pages willsometimes have text printed down along only part of their length, whenit may be desirable to start the next text on a fresh page. Operation ofa special key, the Page Space will automatically accomplish this, aswill be explained.

In FIGURE 16, 154 is a typical record sheet having a registration mark155 preprinted thereon in predetermined relation to the edge of thesheet and in relation to the page separation line 156. Line 156 may lbeprinted only, or perforated only, or both. If perforated only, careshould be taken so that the light reflected is altered sufliciently sothat the photoelectric sensing unit will respond reliably to stop theautomatic paper feeding. Probably both printing and perforatingseparation line 156 would be the most practical, and this will beassumed for explanation purposes. The registration mark 155 will beassumed to be printed in black or colored ink. However, if preferred,this mark and/or the perforation line might be printed with an ultraViolet absorbing agent to be used in conjunction with ultra violet lightsources and filters in the photoelectric registration head. This couldrender the registration marks transparent and non-detectable to thehuman eye, thus improving the appearance of the record sheets in useswhere this might be important. Any preferred one of the followingmaterials might be used for such ultra violet absorption: homomethylsalicylate; ethoxethyl methoxycinnamate; p-amino benzoate; isobutylsalicyl cinnamate; glyceryl p-amino benzoate, or other suitable aromaticorganic compounds.

157 is the photo electric (P E.) head shown in both the end elevationView of the platen 102 at the right (FIG- URE 16A) Iand in the plan viewat 4the left. For the fanfold vertical paper feeding, the separate motor158 is provided with gearing and shafting including driving gear 160 anddriven gear 161 mounted on the platen. Care should be taken to eitheravoid any non-reversible worm gears or .a friction clutch may beincluded in this drive train, because the operator will sometimes wantto turn the platen backwards manually in positioning the paper 22vertically (as on a typewriter). The P.E. head 157 contains preferablyone light source and two separate photosensitive pickups, one located tosense registration mark 155, and the other located to sense theseparation line 156. The P.E. power source for the light source, and theseparate amplifiers are shown diagrammatically as one box 163 in FIGURE16. P.E. Unit No. 1 senses registration mark and delivers power to theoutgoing lead labeled No. 1, from box 163. P E. Unit No. 2 senses pageseparation mark 156 and delivers power to the ourgoing lead labeled No.2 from box 163.

When PE. Unit No. 1 senses registration mark 155, plus current flowsthrough relay 164, out lead 165, along lead 166, through contacts 167 ofrelay 168 to the return side of the power supply (marked minus). Whenrelay 164 is energized it sets up its own holding circuit by having pluscurrent owing in through lead 169, and through contacts170 and then intothe plus side of relay 164. This holding circuit keeps relay 164energized until the energizing of relay 168 separates contacts 167,breaking the return circuit of relay 164. The energizing of relay 164does not, by itself, cause vertical paper feed; we need to be sure theoperator does not want to print anything on that line. When the LineSpace key 172 is operated after relay 164 is energized, plus currentflows through lead 173, through contacts 174, through lead 175, throughcontacts 176, through lead 177, through motor 158, out through lead 166,through contacts 167, and to minus power.

When the Line Space key 172 is operated, if P.E. Unit No. 1 is alsosensing registration mark 155 and relay 164 is energized, the relay 183is energized and sets up its own holding circuit which stays up untilsheet separation line 156 is sensed and relay 168 is energized. Therelay 183 and its holding circuit are provided in case the operator wereto let up the Line Space key 172 breaking contacts 174 before theVertical feeding of the record sheet is completed. The energizing ofrelay 183 is as follows: When Line Space key 172 is depressed, pluscurrent flows along lead 173, through contacts 174, along lead 175through contacts 176 (relay 164 having been previously energized) alonglead 177, along lead 184, into the plus side of relay 183, out its minusside, across contacts 167 (relay 168 not being energized yet) and to theminus side of the power supply. When contacts 184 close, plus currentfrom lead 173 flows into the plus side of relay 183 through contacts 184establishing the holding circuit in relay 183.

The motor 158 continues to drive the record sheet vertically until PE.Unit No. 2 senses the sheet separation line 156 and energizes relay 168thereby breaking the return circuit of motor 158 and relays 164 and 183.

When relay 168 is energized, it sets up its own holding circuit andholds it for a brief but tangible period of time (a second or two) toassure that the automatic paper feeding is stopped even though thecoasting of the motor 158, its associated gearing and shafting, and theplaten may carry the sheet separation line 156 out from under where P.E.Unit No. 2 reacts to it. The operation for this is as follows: Whenrelay 168 is energized by P E. Unit No. 2, plus current also flows alonglead 178, through contacts 179, along lead 180, through contacts 181,and through the relay 168 to the negative power circuit. However, pluscurrent from lead also flows through the time delay device 182 to minuspower. This time delay device 182 may be a bimetallic element with aheating coil, as shown, adapted to open the contacts 181 after theintended brief time interval discussed above. Separating contacts 181de-energizes relay 168 which in turn also cuts olf the heating currentfor the bimetallic unit 182.

At any time when the motor 158 is feeding the record sheet vertically,the electromagnet 146 also is energized through leads 184 and 215,locking the character selection keys so no printing will accidentally bedone on the

1. IN TEXT RECORDING EQUIPMENT, THE COMBINATION INCLUDING A KEYBOARDCONSTRUCTED FOR SIMULTANEOUS SELECTION OF CHARACTERS FOR THE RECORDINGOF WORDS WITH FULL NORMAL SPELLING, KEYS IN SAID KEYBOARD PROVIDING MORETHAN ONE FULL ALPHABET OF CHARACTERS WEITH ONLY ONE FINGER BEINGREQUIRED TO RECORD ANY CHARACTER OF THE ALPHABET, SAID KEYS BEINGCONSTRUCTED TO BE OPERATED BY BOTH HANDS SIMULTANEOUSLY, EACH HAND BEINGCAPABLE OF SELECTING A PLURALITY OF CHARACTERS SIMULTANEOUSLY, A SET OFMASTER CHARACTERS CORRESPONDING TO SAID KEYS, EACH OF SAID MASTERCHARACTERS BEING ENERGIZABLE BY ACTUATION OF ITS CORRESPONDING KEY ORKEYS ON SAID KEYBOARD, SEQUENCE MEANS CONSTRUCTED TO FIX SAID MASTERCHARACTERS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER IN A PREDETERMINED LEFT-TO-RIGHTCHARACTER POSITION SEQUENCE, CHARACTER CONNECTING MEANS CONSTRUCTED TOOPERATIVELY ENERGIZE THE MASTER CHARACTERS CORRESPONDING TO ACTUATEDCHARACTER KEYS, SEQUENCE SCANNING MEANS CAPABLE OF BEING ACTUATED BY ANYSELECTED KEY AND CONSTRUCTURED TO SCAN ALL OF SAID MASTER CHARACTERS INTHE SE-